Tennessee defensive line coach Rodney Garner knows that he has limited time to build depth up front for the Vols’ defense. The clock is ticking. The season is about to begin and Garner isn’t planning on beefing up the depth chart once the season starts. 

“I don’t think you can afford to do that, just to be totally honest with you,” Garner said after practice on Monday when asked about essentially “testing” an unproven player out in a game. “You may get away with it some in a non-conference game, but in a conference game, I don’t know that you can afford to do that.”

Garner at least needs to see something during practice to dictate playing time. He’s looking every day for reasons to insert some of UT’s younger players in the rotation, but signing a letter of intent isn’t reason enough to play among more proven Vols. 

“They’ve got to have shown some glimpses of what they’re going to be or could be,” Garner said following Monday’s practice.

So what about the notion that a player can be a “gamer”, who just doesn’t practice well? Certainly, there are situations in which that is the case. However, Garner is hesitant to test the notion that a player can simply be better just because he’s been inserted into an actual game.

“I think you cheat the other 10 guys on the field…These guys work too hard for that, for me to cheat them out of an opportunity to win,” Garner said.

Every college football program in the country is looking for more depth on the defensive line. So is Tennessee. There’s never too many productive defensive linemen on a roster.

Tyler Baron was one of the players that provided depth last season. Now, he’s expected to assume a much larger role after starting in five games and playing in all 13 contests in 2021.

“He’s been more consistent, I would say starting this spring,” Garner said about Baron. “He’s practiced more than he has ever practiced before. 

“You would think that by being out here on the field and working everyday, that you’re going to improve and we’ve seen improvement from him.”

Baron is still learning to be a true edge pass rusher. There are some technique issues that can get him caught up by an offensive tackle and negate the intent, which is to pressure the quarterback. Still, Baron is improving on sliding by a would-be-blocker and getting into the backfield.

“He’s buying into it,” Garner said.

Bryson Eason is another Tennessee defensive lineman that is being asked to increase his role. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound athlete was projected to play linebacker in college when he was in high school, was quickly tabbed as a defensive end at Tennessee and is now playing more at defensive tackle.

“He’s a big man,” Garner said. “He’s an athletic big man. He’s got to embrace that role. Obviously, the closer you get to the ball, the more physical and demanding it is to play in there. I think he’s adapting to it.”

Playing in the interior of a defensive line isn’t nearly as much fun as being able to roam as a linebacker. Eason, who Garner said has all the necessary skills, just has to accept the different role.

“He has all the tools,” Garner said. “Now, he has to embrace it from a mentality standpoint and a heart standpoint.”

The Vols are also starting to see more from sophomore Dominic Bailey, who has only played in three games heading into his third season. Garner made note of Bailey’s improvement in a recent staff meeting.

“If we had to vote who was probably the most improved guy in that room, it would definitely be Dominic Bailey,” Garner said. “He’s gotten better. He really has. 

“He’s flashed and he’s shown that he’s going to have an opportunity to help this team.”

Garner probably regretted the public compliment he extolled on Bailey, who Garner said was a bit sluggish after the comment on Monday before improving his production in practice. Clearly, Garner is not okay with inconsistency.

“We can’t do that,” Garner said. “We can’t play yo-yo. We can’t be up and down. We need to be consistent with climbing that mountain.”

The Vols have to be more consistent with a new team – one that does not feature the leadership of Matthew Butler, who was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders in April following his final season at Tennessee.

“That’s been a big void,” Garner said. “Matt, I guess we probably took it for granted, how valuable he was. I don’t know that we’ve filled that role yet. I just think we have to keep pushing the guys.”

Garner doesn’t have to push LaTrell Bumphus, who is overcoming a persistent leg injury that he wasn’t fully released from until late July. The Vols could use Bumphus’ leadership in practice, but the Vols are careful not to play Bumphus too much during preseason camp. The senior has proven what he can do.

“I’ve said it many times,” Garner said. “Latrell Bumphus is probably one of the greatest young men I’ve ever had the opportunity to coach.”

Garner said Bumphus is a “man’s man”, which means he’ll give his all when needed. He may not be a superstar, but Bumphus is a proven commodity during the season. Coaches love that.

“He’s a guy that can be that tremendous leader,” Garner said, “but it’s sort of hard because we’ve been limiting his snap count.”

The Vols are still trying to determine what they can get out of some younger players as they try to achieve the ultimate goal of adequate defensive line depth. Tyre West, who was a four-star prospect when he enrolled in January, has the talent, but has more work to complete before he’s ready to contribute regularly for the Vols.

“He’s a talented young man,” Garner said. “He’s got to continue to invest in learning what to do and learning how to do it and be successful in this level and not revert back to freelancing and doing it the high school way. 

“Things he got away with in high school, you can’t get away with in the SEC.”

As for the Vols, they can’t get away with the defensive line play they’ve had in their recent struggles, which have spanned over a decade.

Some talent, depth and experience should help that. The question is, “When will that happen?”